Radio Atlantic, IA – AM 1220

Cass County PPME Union requests 3-year contract, and wage increases

October 10th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A representative of the Public Professional and Maintenance Employees (PPME) Union Local 2003 presented the Cass County Board of Supervisors Wednesday, with the Union’s initial bargaining proposal for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1st, 2013 through June 30th, 2016. Craig Meyer said the Union, which represents the County’s Secondary Roads Department, said one of the proposed changes they would to see made to their contract, is in the area of insurance. The proposal requests the County provide dental insurance to all employees and their families who request the coverage.

Other changes to the language in the contract, pertained to vacation time and holiday pay. The Union proposes employees should be eligible to use their vacation as they earn it, and after one-year, earn 10-days. They also request to have July 5th as a floating holiday, beginning in 2013. And, when it comes to wages, the PPME Union requested a seven-percent rate increase for the first-year of the contract. They also called for a 4-percent increase across the board the second-year of the contract, and a 3-percent increase for the third-year, effective July, 2013.

When the Cass County Courthouse is closed due to bad weather, the Union requests Secondary Roads Department employees receive comp time equal to lost time paid to courthouse employees. The Supervisors did not present their initial proposal to the Union, because it is still being tweaked. It’s expected the proposal will be available to the Union Representative by the Board’s next meeting, on October. 17th.